math help

What is 16/48 + 8/10?

What is 16/48 + 8/10?

Here's how you add

16
48
+
8
10

Step 1

Of course, you can't add two fractions if the denominators (bottom numbers) don't match. To get a common denominator, multiply the denominators together. Then we fix the numerators by multiplying each one by their other term's denominator.

Now you multiply 16 by 10, and get 160, then we multiply 48 by 10 and get 480.

16/48 times 10

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 8 by 48, and get 384, then multiply 48 by 10 and get 480.

8/10 times 48

The problem now has new fractions to add:

160
480
+
384
480

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

160 + 384 = 544

This yields the answer

544
480

Step 3

The last step is to reduce the fraction if we can.

To find out, we try dividing it by 2...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

544
480
÷ 2 =
272
240

Now, try the same number again.

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

272
240
÷ 2 =
136
120

Now, try the same number again.

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

136
120
÷ 2 =
68
60

Now, try the same number again.

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

68
60
÷ 2 =
34
30

Now, try the same number again.

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

34
30
÷ 2 =
17
15

Now, try the same number again.

Nope. Try the next prime number, 3...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 5...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 7...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 11...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 13...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 17...

No good. 17 is larger than 15. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 16/48 + 8/10

16
48
+
8
10
=
17
15
© 2014 Randy Tayler